Saimonin Hotel in Koyasan

We had a wonderful stay at Saimon-in, it’s a truly unique and peaceful experience.
The food was interesting and delicious, with a varied dinner at 6:00 pm and breakfast at 7:30 am. We enjoyed participating in the morning prayer. The daily schedule is well organized, including onsen from 5:00 to 9:00 pm and lights out around 9:00 pm.
The monks were very kind and helpful, and everything was clearly explained. The atmosphere is calm and authentic.
The room was traditional and comfortable - it can be a bit cool, but the air conditioner keeps it warm enough. Futons were surprisingly cozy, and the garden view was beautiful. The onsen was clean, you got everything you need: slippers, pajamas, toothbrush and toothpaste, towels, bedding, even a thermos with hot water.
Highly recommended for a unique cultural stay!

We stayed overnight at Saimonin, a Buddhist temple lodging, and it was a truly unique and memorable experience. The room was spacious and ryokan-style, with shared bathrooms and showers. Do note that the showers are only available from 5–9 pm. The corridors and rooms were quite cold, but turning the AC up to 30°C made the room warm and cosy—though the temperature difference between inside and outside was definitely noticeable.

Dinner is served promptly at 6 pm: a beautifully prepared temple kaiseki-style vegetarian meal. We initially thought it might not be filling, but it was surprisingly plentiful. We ate seated on the floor in the main hall, each couple separated by a small divider and dressed in the provided yukatas, which added to the peaceful atmosphere.

Breakfast is served at 7:30 am, right after attending the monks’ 7 am meditation session, which was fascinating to witness and added a strong spiritual element to the stay. There is a curfew at 9 pm, but we actually appreciated it—it encouraged us to slow down, unwind, and truly enjoy the tranquility of the temple environment.

One thing that could be improved is access to hot water in the evening. We were given a thermos of hot water at check-in along with complimentary matcha tea bags and biscuits, which was lovely. However, by around 7–8 pm we would have liked to make more hot tea, but couldn’t find anyone around to ask. A simple hot water dispenser would make a big difference.

The monks were very quiet, with minimal interaction, and there’s no communal space, so the experience is more individualistic than social.

Overall, it’s a very different kind of stay and one we definitely recommend. It’s absolutely worth it for anyone seeking a serene and culturally rich experience.

Unique experience!

This place is great. Meals are good. But during cold season you better take something warm. The only thing that keeps you from freezing is air conditioning but in big rooms such I had it's not enough.

A lovely little hotel in the heart of Koyasan. All the main attractions are within easy reach. The interior is clean and tidy. The staff are friendly and explained everything and showed me around upon check-in.
I arrived early, and there were two Japanese women standing at the door with me. We rang the bell, but no one came out. Then one of them made a phone call, and a monk immediately came running, opened the door, and we dropped off our bags and went for a walk. The next day, I left my bags in the lobby, went for a walk, and didn't pick them up until 5 PM. Everything was fine; no one touched them or complained about me leaving them there, even though I'd already checked out.

The room was nice and air-conditioned, so I immediately turned it on warm and slept with it on because it was chilly. The window had a lovely view of the garden, but I don't think all rooms have that. I was pleased to see a plunge pool in the shower, though I didn't have much time to warm up in it—just five minutes, as I returned late from an evening walk. Unfortunately, the showers are closed in the morning.
The vegetarian dinner and breakfast were delicious.

We had a great stay at this establishment. We stayed two nights. The meal is included, the night is certainly basic but that's what we came for. The total price is not cheap but it's an experience

Unique temple stay experience.

Because the group chose this Ximenyuan Hotel, everything was as expected, very good.